Ordered spaces, metric preimages, and function algebras (Q1013805)

Let \(X\) be a compact Hausdorff space and \(C(X)\) denote the algebra of all continuous complex valued mappings on \(X\) with the sup norm topology. Let \(A\subset C(X)\) be a subalgebra which separates points and contains the constant functions. We say that \(X\) has the complex Stone-Weierstrass property \(CSWP\) in case every such \(A\) is dense in \(C(X)\). A result of \textit{W. Rudin} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 8, 39--42 (1957; Zbl 0077.31103)] says that if \(X\) is a metric space, then (*) \(X\) has the \(CSWP\) if, and only if, \(X\) contains no copy of the Cantor set. Furthermore, the metric hypothesis can not be omitted. The present author has shown [Fundam. Math. 182, No. 2, 151--167 (2004; Zbl 1063.46036)] that if \(X\) is a linearly ordered topological space (LOTS), then (*) holds. In the present paper he shows, among other things, that if \(L_1,L_2,L_3\) are LOTSes and \(X\subset L_1\times L_2\times L_3\), then (*) holds. He also constructs from the technical apparatus of his paper a compact, separable, first countable LOTS \(L\) such that \(L^n\) has the CSWP for each integer \(n\geq 1\). A number of open questions are also posed.